Hey, Look what I can do!!!

(In the mind of Elise: "Back feet planted, buns in the air....now Rrrrrrrreeeeach - I've got it! Did you see how far I just went? You're seriously going to get a Christmas tree....hee hee, just you wait!!!")

So, it has happened, our little baby is now mobile! I mean she's been rolling for quite awhile, but she's figured out the forward motion....and every so often how to take it on backwards too! Brian and I have been watching her army crawl to get to everything from her toys, to the electrical outlets to my power cord for the laptop - I think I should introduce her to Daddy's stereo....lots and lots of pretty lights and buttons! I am crossing my fingers that the crawling is why she isn't sleeping, and soon it will become old news - and she'll be tired from all that motion! 

It's fun to see her change so much, be mobile, laugh (especially at her brother and doggies), try new foods (pears are the fave!) and notice the world around her...it will be different from Owen's first Christmas....he was so little still that he didn't really care much, for Elise - the lights and music and sounds of wrapping paper and bells - not to mention the Ho Ho Ho of Santa....and the screaming she'll probably do as we place her on his lap for a photo! Should be an adventure.  

We all went on a post Thanksgiving hike this morning - a small attempt at trimming the fat so to speak after all that food yesterday! I'm still full =) We got to watch a Red-tailed Hawk hunt from about 75 feet from us in a canyon - and swoop on down to pick up an early lunch! (luckily, we didn't see or hear what it was....I can only say awesome to that aspect of nature so much!) It was so beautiful - and the air smelled like early winter - Owen did great - he walked almost all of it by himself....getting his energy out - and now, he's napping! (currently, Brian and I are both singing the hallelujah chorus in our heads!)  

Three more days of the holiday weekend - Ya for us, we get Brian home for more family fun - I wonder what other adventures are waiting! 

Things to be thankful for

There are so many, I can't even count - and for THAT, I say THANK YOU....to everyone in my life, past, present and future - and even to those I've never met or never will - Thank you!

I read a great blog this morning from none other than one of my faves, Jason Mraz - Now this is someone with a "can do", fabulous attitude of love, peace and inspiration - he makes me happy, which makes me smile and laugh, which turns out, makes me feel thankful! So to him - Thanks, even though I've never met you and more likely than not, never will!

Here are just a couple of things I'm thankful for:

And when you can, check out www.freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com to be inspired yourself!

Peace

It was a GREAT day for bird watching...

So that's what we did...What a GORGEOUS day! The sun was shining beyond belief, it was amazing - from the moment we woke up.  We knew we wanted to get outside, so we got in the car and headed out to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.  Why do yard work two weekends in a row - when there were gorgeous feathered friends to watch and listen to! 

Needless to say, with all this beauty that surrounded us, we drove up to the refuge where there are two buildings that flank the parking lot - and Owen's first words..."Man, this place looks boring!" - Alrighty then, get on the trail and see what there is! On the trail - Owen was in search of a newt - none to be found, but still it was fun to search.  We got about 1/2 of the way out, and his next phrase of choice..."Come on Mom, don't you want to go back to the museum to learn about birds...I'm tired."  

He eventually got over this as we witnessed Red Tail hawks hunting in a large field, Canadian Geese honking and landing in the marsh - and so many different types of ducks on the water we couldn't count.  We watched birds, people watching birds - and just the wind through the trees in the forest area - the streams going down towards the marsh - where we imagined beavers making their homes and fish swimming (also newts would be there too!)

As we were leaving, Brian was putting the gear away, Owen was getting in his car seat - I was with Elise - and I SWEAR....there was an eagle.  I watched the BIGGEST bird take off from a tree and circle over the marsh several times - by the time I got Brian's attention - he looked - also thought it may be an eagle - but as I ran out of the truck with binoculars in hand - it was gone....where could that bird have gone! I did see an Egret as I searched for the eagle though! I figure it left us with enough anticipation of what could have been - that we will for sure be back for more! Our own bird watching sequel.  

What a fabulous day - Brian and I got some great exercise - Owen had some fun shuffling - and Elise got to growl all through the forest to keep the coyotes away! Ahhh...love it!

Feelin' Fine

Another weekend + another gray day - one sister = Fun time at the school with my Daddy! Here's Owen looking pretty dang cute, showing us all what's up! You'd never know he was sick, AGAIN! Oh the immune system of a 4 year old in school - yikes!

So Grandpa Keith (aka Silver Fox) went to Owen's (aka Red Elk) school yesterday to share all of his Native American artifacts and stories with the class - Red Elk was loving it! I can't wait to post pictures - but I'm still waiting for them myself. Apparently Silver Fox made quite the impression on the kids, they felt so comfortable with him in fact they were able to share such personal things as, "I don't know what to get my Mom for Christmas", "Did you know I have 2 hermit crabs?", "I had a fish, but it died"...etc! One of the room Mom's video taped it, should be fun to watch! =) Thanks Dad, Owen was so lucky to get to have you do that.  Red Elk thanks Silver Fox with much appreciation. 

I am having a hard time posting this, Elise is EVERYWHERE she is not supposed to be.  Brian's at a work meeting - Owen and I are trying to play Indians....complete with paper head dress - but Elise just wants to know why she simply can't roll and scoot through the furniture, what's in the heating vent and why her rattle won't talk back to her - she's telling it something VERY important, and I have a feeling that's why she's biting it with such fierce, little miss wants a response! 

Alright, hopefully I'll be back later with some good pics - Owen has now designed a paper bow and arrow...AWESOME!

Ah bb baa bboo ahhhhh

"Aren't I adorable!!!" I think that's what she's saying when she babbles!!! I mean, that's my translation to ah ba ba ba da da laaaaa ahhhh....oh, and also, "I love you mommy!" - 

These are some gorgeous photos taken by a friend of a friend at a birthday party for Owen's friend recently (did you get all that!).  She did such a great job photographing all the kiddos - although there were only Owen's back...he was TOO busy playing to sit still and smile! There are so many more beautiful shots of Elise - I think she liked her!

So hopefully some time this weekend we'll get to post pics and news about the fun and exciting things going on at Owen's school! Tomorrow they have their Native American Potlatch and Grandpa Keith is coming to Owen's class to share Indian artifacts that were given to him from friends and students when he was at Chemawa Indian School - Owen hasn't stopped telling his friends and anyone who will listen that his Grandpa is coming to his school for about all of November - we've had to do a countdown! 

Elise has some teeth trying to poke through her bottom gums, we'll see when they ACTUALLY do though, I remember this with Owen...it seems like they are teething from the time they're delivered! And crawling is coming soon - gosh darnit! Kidding...sort of.  

Be back soon with fun and exciting Holiday messages and news -

What An AMAZING Night

It is with great excitement I post tonight...It is FINALLY over! It is time for our country to heal, to be embraced all over the world again and to rebuild what we all know is greatness! I can imagine that the road ahead for President elect Obama will be extremely difficult, but I know it can be handled with grace.  I watched the news tonight focus so much on the fact that Obama is the first African American president....which he is and it's amazing to be a part of this history, but to me - that never mattered - and my hope is that when Owen and Elise are voting...it WON'T matter then, even to the television commentators...AT ALL! I look forward to January 20th 2009 - not to mention watching and living and being a part in our history! 

Remember....VOTE - it is your right and your privilege - There are many moments in time that will make you smile, some that will make you cry and some that will take your breath away...grab them all - they should all make you PROUD!

It is TIME for Change - thank you America, thank you

VOTE

Today is the day that we Americans MUST use to be heard....regardless of opinion - it is our day to recognize what is important to us, our families and our futures! Although I begin this day with slight anxiety (I am SOOOOO excited!) and I must admit I kept thinking about this evening all last night as I was up with Elise 4 times....it's here....and I am PUMPED to watch our country in action.  I will for sure be pacing around my house and glancing at the TV only when something positive lures me there....or when something I feel strongly about causes me to start talking AT the TV like the commentators can hear me (really - they can be SO annoying!) - but I know that I did all I could - I voted....and it feels great to know that at some point my ballot will go through some set of hands in to some machine - and for that 5 seconds, it will be about what I SAID - and that, it AWESOME!